The Koi Industry and Koi Hobby are in Jeopardy!

Posted
on
October 26, 2016

Believe it
or not, the US government is considering the inclusion of our beloved Koi,
(Cyprinus carpio) to its injurious
species list. Being on the injurious species list would mean the movement of
the species is strictly prohibited. The transportation of Koi across any state
line would become illegal: a felony with penalties, both monetary and prison
sentences being imposed. Such movement of Koi, as well as the importation of
Koi, would be considered a direct violation of the U.S. Lacey Act.

If this
occurs, it will become a federal crime for individuals to transport pet koi
outside of their home state to participate in koi shows. No longer could any
koi be purchased from outside of your home state. You would no longer have the
option to purchase or import koi from Japan, or any other country. No koi will
be allowed to cross state lines. Imagine, even in the event of relocation or
retirement, you will be a charged with a felony if you move to another state
and take your pet koi with you! The Koi hobby and industry could be devastated!

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS) received a petition on September 23, 2016 to list 43 native and nonnative
aquatic species as Injurious Wildlife under the authority granted by the Lacey
Act.

The
title
: Petition: To Amend 50 CFR §16.13 to List 43 High
Risk Fish, Crayfish, and Mollusk Species as Injurious Species under the Lacey
Act

The petition includes the black acara,
blue catfish, common carp (i.e., koi), grass carp, guppies, Jaguar guapote,
three plecos (Amazon, Orinoco and vermiculated sailfin catfish), red swamp
crawfish, and three tilapias (i.e., blue, Mozambique and Nile). Many of the crayfish farmers in the south and
tilapia producers throughout the country will be impacted.

The petition came from the Center for
Invasive Species Prevention (CISP, a private, non-government organization).

The
National Aquaculture Association
(NAA)
is a private entity that helps in
the fight against changing regulations that could be detrimental to the
aquaculture industry in the US. It is currently objecting to these proposed
changes. As an active member of the NAA, Kloubec Koi Farm receives the latest
information in regards to this issue and we will continue to pass pertinent
information on to maintain awareness of any changes.

The US
FWS must assess all petitions received, and it calls for public input on each
one. At this time the US Fish & Wildlife
Service is welcoming information on this issue. They’d like to hear from the
industry, growers, sellers, consumers and hobbyists who may oppose the petition
to include common carp
(Cyprinus carpio)
(i.e, Koi) to the national injurious species list.

Unfortunately,
there is no set timeline for a determination. We certainly would like to raise
as much opposition to this issue as possible in a relatively quick manner. It
is in the hobby and industry’s best interests to be pro-active rather than re-active,
should an unfavorable ruling be imposed.

In
addition to contacting the two entities above, it would be beneficial to
contact your state legislators as well. You may use this link to find the
appropriate office in your state for voicing an opinion:
http://www.whoismyrepresentative.com/

Write,
call and email the offices to let them know that you strongly disagree with the
inclusion of common carp, Koi,
(Cyprinus
carpio)
to the injurious species list of the United States of America and
the proposed regulation change.

A
sample letter is below to assist in addressing this complicated issue.

Please
feel free to use all or any of it, and add to it as you see fit. Please be
firm, yet polite when voicing your strong opposition to the proposed regulation
change.

I’d like to share an interesting fact about the common carp. In
my conversations with the President of the Nation Aquaculture Association
regarding this issue I was enlightened on just how the common carp was
introduced to the United States. Back in the late 1800’s the US Fish &
Wildlife Service, in its infancy operated under a different name, possibly the
US Fish Commission.
The agency intentionally stocked the common carp throughout the USA waters as a
possible food source for the millions of immigrants populating our nation. At
that time, it seemed like a good idea. Now there is no hope of eradicating the
species.

Unfortunately, our genetically selected pets (Koi) are included
in the entire species known as
Cyprinus
carpio
and may be subject to these proposed stifling regulations proposed
by the CISP; limiting its production, movement, and all of our enjoyment
associated with the koi species and hobby.

In closing, I encourage
everyone to make at least ONE contact regarding this issue to help prevent the
inclusion of Koi to the injurious species list.

Spread the word to
increase our chances of prevailing!

Your Friends in Koi,

Ellen Kloubec, Myron
Kloubec & The Kloubec Koi Farm Staff

Sample
Letter:

To (your legislator’s name
here),

Today I am writing to express
my concern and strong objection to a recently submitted petition from the CISP
to add common carp (Cyprinus carpio, or koi) to the US Fish and Wildlife’s
Injurious Species list.

Petition: To Amend 50 CFR §16.13 to List 43 High
Risk Fish, Crayfish, and Mollusk Species as Injurious Species under the Lacey
Act

I believe that this regulation
change would be an absolute mistake with devastating economic effects to the
water garden industry and nationally enjoyed Koi hobby, including Koi breeders,
growers, equipment manufacturers, pond contractors, feed companies, etc.!
Adding koi to the Injurious Species list will most certainly eliminate the koi,
garden pond and water gardening industry. This would result in millions of
dollars of revenue being lost from the US economy, as well as jobs and tax
revenue lost from our state. The wide spread economic impact would be
immeasurable.

I strongly encourage you to act
in the best interest of the businesses and families in our state, and urge The
US Fish and Wildlife Service
NOT to
move forward with this change in regulation.

I thank you for your time and
consideration, as well as your public service to our state.